This is the first conviction for Dominguez, who is facing 14 criminal charges in various courts, four of which have been dismissed.
In an 11-page decision penned by Judge Wilfredo Nieves of RTC Branch 84, Dominguez was found guilty of carjacking by means of force and violence upon person.
Penalized under Republic Act 6539 or the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, Dominguez was sentenced to a minimum of 17 years and four months to 30 years in prison.
The court, however, dismissed the robbery charges filed against Dominguez after the prosecution failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The court also archived the charges against Dominguez’s unidentified accomplices who are at large.
The case stemmed from the carjacking in Marilao, Bulacan on Jan. 14, 2010 of a black Toyota Fortuner with license plate ZGW 872 worth P1.065 million that was stolen from Dante Escoto.
Escoto also complained that his laptop, necklace, cash and other jewelry worth P116,000 were stolen.
Based on his court testimony, Escoto said three men accosted him while he was about to purchase new car matting for his Fortuner that was registered under his company Crocodile Tape Co.
Two suspects confronted Escoto and hit him in the stomach. One of the suspects was later identified through police rogue photo gallery as Dominguez.
Dominguez was part of the notorious syndicate responsible for a spate of carjacking incidents that made headlines last year.
Other cases against Dominguez and his cohorts remain pending in other branches of the Malolos RTC.
Continue Reading at (The Philippine Star)
